Distribution of ABO blood group allele and identification of three novel alleles in the Chinese Han population

Background The ABO blood group system is clinically important in blood transfusion. The molecular characterization of ABO blood group has clinical and anthropological importance. Here, we determined the ABO alleles distribution and identified three novel alleles in the Chinese Han population. Study Design and Methods Four hundred and seventeen Chinese Han individuals were determined by standard serologic techniques for the ABO blood group phenotypes. The ABO genotypes and alleles were analysed by polymerase chain reaction sequence‐based typing (PCR‐SBT) for sequencing exon 6 to 7 of the ABO gene. The polymorphisms of intron 5 and 6 of the ABO gene were also analysed by PCR‐SBT. The two haplotypes including new alleles were separated by a Dynabeads M‐270 Streptavidin protocol. Results All ABO genotypes of the samples were consistent with the phenotypes. Fourteen alleles were identified based on the nucleotide sequences of exon 6 and 7, with five common alleles (A101, A102, B101, O01 and O02), six known rare alleles (A205, B110, O04, O05, O07 and O50) and three novel alleles (B112, CisAB06 and 061). The three new alleles appeared with the frequencies of 0·12%, 0·12% and 0·36%, respectively. Conclusion The detailed frequencies distribution of ABO alleles was studied in the Chinese Han population. We identified 14 alleles, including 3 novel alleles.